Chitinase-3-Like 1 Protein (CHI3L1) Levels in Patients With Cognitive Deficits and Movement Disorders: Comparison...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biochemistry
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a glycoprotein linked to neuroinflammation and tissue remodeling in neurological conditions.
• Its role as a biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases requires further validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the reference interval (RI) for serum CHI3L1 (S CHI3L1) in healthy individuals.
• To correlate S CHI3L1 levels with established biomarkers of neurodegenerative damage.
• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of S CHI3L1 for cognitive disorders.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples from 108 healthy volunteers were analyzed to determine the S CHI3L1 RI.
• ELISA assays were used to measure S CHI3L1, neurofilament light chain (NfL), beta-amyloid, tau protein, and alpha-synuclein in patients with cognitive disorders.
• Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Main Results:

• The RI for S CHI3L1 was determined to be 14.44–63.11 µg/L, with a cut-off value of 34.37 µg/L.
• S CHI3L1 demonstrated 81.4% sensitivity and 76.9% specificity in ROC analysis.
• Significant correlations were observed between S CHI3L1 and age, S CHI3L1 and S NfL, and S CHI3L1 levels varied significantly across diagnostic groups.

Conclusions:

• Serum CHI3L1 levels correlate with cognitive deficit severity as measured by the MMSE.
• S CHI3L1 can serve as a valuable supportive biomarker in the diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases.